AA friend has asked me to bake her a 12x4 inch cake so thought I'd buy a cake tin that size. it came today and is massive!!! I can't see how that much cake can possibly bake well.

I am thinking of scaling the recipe down and baking 2 x 12x2 inch cakes but using the same tin (just not filling it as much) will this work?

I am new to baking. I have a feeling I may have wasted my money on this tin :(

AVicky! Yes its works I do it on mostly everyone of my cakes.

APhew!!!

Do you use the bake even strips when baking a cake this size? If ideally like to have a nice flat base so I don't have to level as much and lose any cake?

ANope Vicky, I dont use anything like that, I cook it in 2 batches, gas 3 for about 50 mins, I have never had any problems at all, dont need to level, they come out flat, light and fluffy.

AThanks. Would you mind if I have your recipe for simple vanilla sponge? Would those cooking times work for 12 inch cake? Whenever I have baked a cake, it always comes out with a crusty dome on the top which I then have to level, I end up losing so much cake.

AAlso would this recipe be ok for covering with fondant and carving?

ARound or square Vicky?

ASquare x

AOK Vicky, right this is my recipe for 12" square, x2.

6 eggs. 350grms of s/r flour, caster sugar, and butter.

3 tsp baking powder.

Tsp vanilla.

Beat all together for 2 mins, book for 50, more or less depending on your oven.

Do this twice, its never failed me Vicky.

I made 7 cakes in a week two weeks ago.

ASorry, gas 3,180c/350f

AThat's brilliant. Thanks so much. I've been looking at so many recipes and most of them call for around 10 eggs for a 12" x 2" square cake, seemed like a lot of egg to me. Thank you x

AThis is technically a 10 egg mix if cooked all at once, but I scale it up abit more to give it a slightly bigger layer and go for a 6 egg mix times too, does that make sense?

AYes, 2 rounds = 12" x 4" cake. The cake calculator thing I've been using wanted me to use 16 eggs for a 12"x 4" square.

AThanks so much nanny cook. Just made the recipe above and it's turned out wonderful and took exactly 50 mins. So pleased. Thank you x

AAw fab Vicky, its a lovely cake and I never have probs either it.